Evaluation of a Bidentate ‘Clamp-Like’ Halogen-Bond Donor Motif Based on Iodonium(III) Moieties

Abstract

AbstractA new motif for iodine(III)-based halogen-bond donors consisting of a 1,3-phenylene core and two cyclic five-membered diaryliodonium(III) wings was designed and its potential as a catalyst was evaluated. Its properties were analyzed in the solid state by X-ray crystallography and in solution by benchmark catalytic activation of a nitro-Michael addition between 5-methoxyindole and trans-β-nitrostyrene.